Tenerife Deploys ES-Alert System Island-Wide for First Time During Torrential Rainfall

Last Tuesday night, the Canary Islands reached a milestone in emergency management when the ES-Alert system was activated across Tenerife. The regional government deployed the technology for the first time to warn the entire island about torrential rainfall as storm Therese caused a sudden and dangerous shift in weather conditions.

The decision was made by the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) after the storm crossed the red-risk threshold. Unlike traditional warnings, this system sends alerts directly to mobile devices in the affected area. According to Deputy Minister of Emergencies Marcos Lorenzo, the system uses pre-approved templates, allowing authorities to issue warnings in a matter of minutes.

Technically, ES-Alert works differently than a standard text message. The signal is broadcast through cell towers, which allows for a latency period of up to one hour. This ensures that phones that were turned off or out of range when the alert was first sent will still receive the notification once they reconnect. Because of this, and because different mobile networks manage signals in their own way, users in the same area may not receive the alert at the exact same time.

While this is not the first time the Canary Islands have used this technology, its use is becoming more frequent and targeted. The system was previously deployed during forest fires in La Palma and Tenerife in 2023, and it has undergone several stress tests and simulations throughout 2024 and 2025. By communicating directly with the public, authorities aim to reduce unnecessary travel and prioritize safety during extreme weather events.